INVESTING AMERICAN RECOVERY & REINVESTMENT ACT FUNDS
CAA was awarded $18.7 million through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Our staff, board members, and partners worked diligently to ensure that ARRA delivered all that it promised to our local community. CAA helped struggling families, created and saved jobs, and helped local businesses keep their doors open.
The infusion of ARRA dollars began in April 2009. Although many of these programs ended in 2010, CAA is proud to continue offering Cincinnati Manufacturing Certificates, GCMIElite, and the YouthBuild Construction & Training Program, three initiatives established using stimulus funds.
To learn more about the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, visit Recovery.org.
HELPING FAMILIES & CREATING/SAVING JOBS
With the infusion of ARRA funds, CAA was able to assist the growing number of families struggling to make ends meet. The agency served over 45,000 people in our community, almost 10,000 more than in any previous year.
ARRA-funded programs also allowed for the creation of many new job opportunities at CAA and allowed contracted businesses to retain current employees/hire additional employees. The agency leveraged its ARRA funding to create 58 jobs internally and create/retain 36 positions at local companies. CAA's Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) alone has almost tripled the amount of materials and tools purchased from local vendors, stimulating the economy and helping to save/create jobs at these businesses.
CAA partnered with the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio to expand the outreach efforts of the Avondale Soup Kitchen. The partnership allowed the soup kitchen to increase the number of individuals it served and to expand its hours of operation from one to two days per week.
Impact:
136 additional homeless persons received assistance
Cincinnati Manufacturing Certifications (CMC)
CAA created the CMC program to better equip production technicians with the high-tech skills and knowledge needed within the manufacturing industry. CMC used the national certification curriculum developed by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) to provide 140 hours of education and testing on topics such as hazardous material safety, blueprint reading, and machine operations. CAA continues to offer the CMC program.
Impact:
127 individuals participated
90 completed the program, receiving their MSSC certification
25 secured full-time employment through the program, receiving an average of $13.50/hour at their new job
City Gospel ENDS Program
CAA and City Gospel Mission teamed up to extend the Mission’s outreach and supportive services to the male homeless population in Cincinnati. The funding allowed for a more in-depth and individualized case management system, as well as providing clothing for interviews and employment, apartment starter kits (including bedding and dishware), and bus tokens.
Impact:
98 homeless men received services
Expanding the Fatherhood Initiative
CAA’s Directions for Dad program partnered with several area correctional facilities to provide education, resources, and support to incarcerated and recently released fathers who are transitioning back into the community. Participants gained effective communication strategies, conflict resolution skills, and knowledge of visitation and custody rights.
Impact:
134 individuals participated
83 completed the program
Freestore Foodbank Emergency Food Service
CAA partnered with the Freestore Foodbank to provide nutritious meals to Hamilton County’s low-income individuals and families. The assistance from CAA also allowed the Freestore’s Mobile Pantry to provide emergency food assistance to those unable to visit their distribution centers.
Impact:
500,000 pounds of food purchased
400,000 emergency meals provided
Nutrition Education & Training Program
Registered dietitians educated families on how easy it is to make nutritious food choices on a limited budget through CAA’s Nutrition Education & Training Program. Through live cooking demonstrations and nutrition education, participants learned how to prepare nutritious meals, grow container gardens, decipher food labels, and shop for healthy, affordable foods. Participants who completed a two-class session received free groceries to jumpstart their improved eating habits.
Impact:
767 participated
624 completed the program
Prison Bus Program
Linking Families Together transports children and families to visit incarcerated loved ones throughout Ohio. CAA partnered with the organization to arrange bus service for over 300 families. The program also provides supportive services to the children and families of Hamilton County's incarcerated residents.
Impact:
78 families received transportation assistance
104 children of incarcerated individuals received supportive services
Supportive Services
To aid an already established agency program that seldom has the resources to assist the many in need, CAA used ARRA funding to expand the efforts of its Supportive Services program. Households received $100 gift cards per child to purchase school uniforms, backpacks, and other back-to-school supplies. Individuals and families on the verge of becoming homeless received rent assistance and households who had received a disconnection notice received financial assistance with their water bill. Food vouchers were also distributed to eligible families in need.
Impact:
64 families received rental assistance
305 families received food vouchers
32 families received assistance paying their water bill
3,130 school age children received gift cards to purchase school uniforms and supplies
Youth Employment Training & Coaching
Through a partnership with Hamilton County Job & Family Services (HCJFS), CAA helped foster youth secure employment and gain valuable job skills training. The program also provided training on topics such as completing job applications, interview preparation, dispute resolution, and more.
Impact:
99 foster youth participated
20 obtained employment
62 youth were enrolled in post-secondary education
GCMI expanded its current Entrepreneurial Training Academy (ETA) to assist incarcerated and recently released individuals with enhancing their business skills. GCMI also partnered with CAA’s Fresh Start program to address the challenges facing ex-offenders as they re-enter the workforce.
Impact:
29 completed the program
Individual Development Account -
By Car Program
Many low-income families must depend on public transportation, which limits employment opportunities and can be difficult when trying to get children to school and get to work on time. The By Car IDA program assisted individuals with saving and budgeting for the purchase of an automobile by matching every $1 clients saved with $2 (up to $4,000 total). Participants also received financial counseling and consumer education classes on creating a budget, understanding credit, and learning how to purchase and maintain a vehicle.
Impact:
8 completed financial and consumer education classes
2 participants purchased vehicles
Individual Development Account -
Credit Recovery Program
The Credit Recovery IDA program helped participants save money to eliminate delinquent debt, resulting in a higher credit score. For every $1 saved into the account, clients’ savings were matched with $1 (up to $1,000 total). Participants also received financial counseling and consumer education classes on creating a budget and understanding credit.
Impact:
4 completed financial and consumer education classes
1 participants has decreased debt and an improved credit rating, to date
GCMIElite Entrepreneurship Program
Often times small businesses fold when their vision isn’t implemented properly. GCMIElite was designed to address this issue by providing training, financial education, and supportive business services to potential and current business owners. GCMI is continuing the GCMIElite program.
ARRA funds allowed CAA to make quality improvements in our early childhood education program to ensure that Head Start/Early Head Start infants and toddlers are prepared to begin kindergarten on par with their peers.
From July 2009 through March 2011, the HWAP program will weatherize over 1,375 homes in Hamilton County using ARRA funding. Home weatherization helps low-income households lower utility bills by making homes more energy efficient through services such as replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, insulating attics, basements, and walls, and replacing or repairing heating systems.
ARRA funding has also allowed CAA to increase the income eligibility from 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines to 200%. Expanding the HWAP program is stimulating the economy by creating job opportunities at CAA, significantly increasing the amount expended at local businesses for materials, and allowing contracted business to retain current employees/hire additional employees.
April 2009 - September 2010 Impact:
1,873 individuals served (111 of whom are elderly and 86 of whom are handicapped)
Modeled after CAA's Blueprint for Success program, Blueprint for Success Expansion provided construction training for adults 30 years of age and older. Participants received hands-on training, supportive services, and graduated from the program with a national certification in construction.
Impact:
53 individuals enrolled
43 graduated with a national certification in construction
15 obtained employment
4 are pursuing post-secondary education
Constructing Futures
Through a collaboration with the Greater Cincinnati Regional Construction Trades Partnership, CAA’s Constructing Futures program provided construction training, career guidance, and job search assistance to low-income, non-working adults.
Impact:
37 individuals enrolled
38 graduated
5 are pursuing post-secondary education
On-the-Job Training
CAA’s most hands-on and intensive construction training class, On-the-Job Training (OJT) helped adults (ages 18-40) enhance their skill level in the field. Students advanced their knowledge of the construction trade by working directly with professional contractors on both residential and commercial properties.
Impact:
40 individuals enrolled
25 graduated
24 obtained employment
1 is pursuing post-secondary education
YouthBuild Construction & Training Program
ARRA funding allowed CAA to bring the national construction training program YouthBuild U.S.A. to the Cincinnati region. CAA's YouthBuild program served Hamilton County's at-risk young adults (ages 16-24) who had dropped out of high school or were unemployed. The students received supportive services, hands-on construction training, and the resources and tools to earn their GED. CAA continues to offer the YouthBuild program.
Impact:
54 young adults enrolled
31 graduated, earning a national certification in construction
CAA partnered with numerous local organizations to ensure that our community received the full benefit promised by the infusion of ARRA funds. The agency awarded ARRA sub-grants and sub-contracts to the following organizations in an effort to educate parents, help low-income individuals improve financial literacy, provide foster youth with employment skills training, and assist families in obtaining basic necessities:
Beech Acres Parenting Center
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
City Gospel Mission
Clark State Community College
Council of Christian Communions of Greater Cincinnati
Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio - Avondale Soup Kitchen
Freestore Foodbank
Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative
Hamilton County Job and Family Service
The Ohio Department of Development, Office of Community Services, oversaw the distribution of ARRA funds that enabled CAA to expand its services and meet the growing needs of our community. They also provided valuable technical assistance which helped CAA use ARRA funds in the most effective and efficient manner.
In addition, CAA partnered with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to reach out to Hamilton County's incarcerated population who will soon be transitioning back into the community.
ARRA funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
